44 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | MAY 2 020 ONE ORGANIZATION, MANY SERVICES Wesley Community & Health Centers serves the whole health of its community THE STORY For 70 years, Wesley Community & Health Centers has provided community programs, services, classes and activities for families living in south-central Phoenix. For most of that time, its primary activities included adult English and citizenship activities such as amnesty programs because the community is primarily Hispanic. But after they added a gym in the 70’s, more programs became focused on children. By Karen Werner Healthcare became a bigger priority after 2002, when Centro de Salud health center began with volunteer physicians, primarily from Banner Good Samaritan Hospital. These services and clinics began by serving “uninsured only.” All patients paid $20 per visit, but that increased to $40 after the first year, because patients said the health center should “charge more” for its excellent services. With an unexpected Federal stimulus grant in 2009, this healthcare for “uninsured only” CHARITY SPOTLIGHT {giving back}

MAY 2 020 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 45 became a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) providing healthcare to underserved populations, regardless of their ability to pay. Today, Wesley Health Center continues its primary FQHC healthcare services at its original site, at 1300 S. 10 th St. as well as its newly expanded second healthcare site at the Golden Gate Community Center at 1625 N. 39 th Ave. THE CAUSE Wesley Community & Health Centers isn’t just two community health clinics providing high-quality, affordable care to those who are primarily low-income and uninsured or underinsured; it is two community centers as well. “Wesley is the only FQHC with a community center in the state of Arizona. Wesley’s combination of primary healthcare services with community center programs and activities is a forward-thinking, innovative hybrid model to address the whole health of an individual, families and the community,” said Blaine Bandi, the CEO of Wesley Community & Health Centers. “There is no other nonprofit in Arizona that combines healthcare services with community programs and activities designed to improve community wellness.” “ “ There is no other nonprofit in Arizona that combines healthcare services with community programs and activities designed to improve community wellness.” From after-school youth programs to classes in nutrition, financial literacy and adult education, Wesley works to provide opportunities for personal and social growth. “What makes Wesley’s after-school and summer programming unique is that it is extremely low-cost and high- quality,” Bandi said. During the school year, the rate is $10 per child per week. In the summer, it goes to $35 per child per week for structured programming such as STEM activities, one-on- one homework tutoring, nutrition education, community gardening, arts and crafts, daily physical activity and computer education. Whether it’s through STEM classes or ESL and citizenship programs, Wesley’s unique model serves the well-being of its community.